Event | 2016 Balloon Fiesta - Day Six

After my awesome time chasing balloons via bicycle on Saturday, I finally got a chance to go to Balloon Fiesta Park on Thursday.  I had high hopes as it was the last day of the week projected to have good weather.  Additionally, Thursday and Friday have the special shapes rodeo, where many hot air balloons of spectacular and often highly unusual shapes take off.

If you ever go to Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, I suggest taking advantage of their park and ride system, it makes getting in and out of the park a breeze, a stark contrast to the nightmare that is parking on-site.  After getting dropped off a little before 7 AM, regrettably missing dawn patrol and early balloon glow, my wife and I arrived just in time to take a quick jaunt around and find the flag-bearing lead balloon.  After its launch the park goes into full gear, with balloons inflating and taking off all around.  The crowds, annually approaching 1,000,000 for the nine day event, swarm from balloon to balloon, getting up close and, sometimes, traversing between inflating balloon envelopes.

Unfortunately on this day, winds picked up before the special shapes were inflated and the launches were suspended.  I already had shots I was pleased with and I was forced to concede defeat and go to my day job, my camera battery was dead anyway.